Leadd B.v.

Aesculaap B.v.

Matheus Hubertus Noteborn

Guus Koch

Gerben F De Boer

The coding information for three putative chicken anemia virus proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3) was inserted into a baculovirus vector and expressed in insect cells. The immunogenic properties of the chicken anemia virus (CAV) proteins produced separately or together in insect-cell cultures were analyzed by inoculating them into chickens. Only lysates of insect cells which have synthesized equivalent amounts of all three recombinant CAV proteins or cells which synthesized mainly VP1 plus VP2 induced neutralizing antibodies directed against CAV in inoculated chickens. Progeny of those chickens were protected against clinical disease after CAV challenge. Inoculation of a mixture of lysates of cells that were separately infected with VP1-, VP2- and VP3-recombinant baculovirus did not induce significant levels of neutralizing antibody directed against CAV and their progeny were not protected against CAV challenge. Our results indicate that expression in the same cell of at least two CAV proteins, VP1 plus VP2, is required to obtain sufficient protection in chickens. Therefore, recombinant CAV proteins produced by baculovirus vectors can be used as a sub-unit vaccine against CAV infections.

Chicken anemia virus mutants and vaccines and uses based on the viral

Novel proteins of the Chicken Anemia Virus are described and compositions for preventing or treating infections with that virus (CAV), in particular vaccines less pathogenic than the CAV itself, but yet leading to neutralizing antibodies in the immunized animal. Besides, there are described compositions containing antibodies against parts of the CAV for the control of infections with CAV and anti-idiotype antibodies. The invention also provides antibodies and test kits for the detection of CAV. Recombinant DNA molecules derived from CAV and host cells transfected therewith and vaccines based on these host cells are made possible by this invention. The invention also comprises living virus vaccines in which apiece of DAN is brought into a virus infectious to the host. Besides, the Invention provides uses of proteins of CAV in the induction of apoptosis, in particular in tumor cells. It further provides the induction of cell death by means of gene therapy.

Methods and compositions for inducing apoptosis in tumor cells

The coding information for three putative chicken anemia virus proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3) was inserted into a baculovirus vector and expressed in insect cells. The immunogenic properties of the chicken anemia virus (CAV) proteins produced separately or together in insect cell cultures were analyzed by inoculating them into chickens. Only lysates of insect cells which have synthesized equivalent amounts of all three recombinant CAV proteins or cells which synthesized mainly VP1 plus VP2 induced neutralizing antibodies directed against CAV in inoculated chickens. Progeny of those chickens were protected against clinical disease after CAV challenge. Inoculation of a mixture of lysates of cells that were separately infected with VP1- , VP2- and VP3-recombinant baculovirus did not induce significant levels of neutralizing antibody directed against CAV and their progeny were not protected against CAV challenge. Our results indicate that expression in the same cell of at least two CAV proteins, VP1 plus VP2, is required to obtain sufficient protection in chickens. Therefore, recombinant CAV proteins produced by baculovirus vectors can be used as a sub-unit vaccine against CAV infections.

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Leiden, Netherlands

Matheus Hubertus Noteborn